Christmas Music

Christian Century, Dec 13, 2003

Orphei Drangar, Robert Sund. BIS 533, $16 (http://www.od.se/).

This "Sons of Orpheus" chorus of about 60 men has been an institution in Sweden since 1853. Their control is marvelous, especially in the way they give a natural, speech-like lightness to unstressed syllables.

This program includes songs from all over Europe. Some of the selections are also in Chanticleer's Christmas albums, but these Orpheus performances are fresher.